THE SAGE OF KANCHI

His Holiness Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal, the Sage of Kanchi is considered to be one of the greatest saints of India. To millions of devotees he was simply "Periyava" — the revered one or Maha-Periyava. "Periyava" in Tamil means a great person, and conveys endearment, reverence, and devotion. "Mahaswami" and "Paramacharya" are his other well-known appellations.Periyava was born on Sunday, 20 May 1894 under Anuradha star("Anusham Nakshatram"), according to the Hindu calendar, into a Kannadiga Smartha family in Villupuram, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu. He was the second son of Sri Subramaniya Sastrigal, a District Education Officer. The child was named Swaminathan, after the family deity, Lord Swaminatha of Swamimalai, near Kumbakonam. As a child he was an exceptional student and excelled in several subjects.He has received a proficiency prize for the recitation of "Holy Bible" in the Christian Missionaries School he studied.During the childhood of the Acharya, his father consulted an astrologer, who upon studying the boy's horoscope is said to have been so stunned that he prostrated himself before the boy exclaiming that "One day the whole world will fall at his feet." During 1907, then presiding acharya (66th) of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam attained Samadhi and instructed his disciple Lakshminathan, be installed as the 67th Peetathipathi. Lakshminathan happens to be the elder cousin of Swaminathan.Unaware of his huge responsibility which awaited him, swaminathan and his mother set out to attend the "Pattabhisegam" of his cousin and also to console the mother of Lakshminathan as he happended to be her only child.The boy later learnt that he was never to come back from kanchi.The 67th acharya developed a delirium and subsequently took samadhi after reigning for mere 7 days.Hence swaminathan was chosen as the 68th acharya and his Pattabhisegam was done on February 13, 1907.At the tender age of 13 years the boy was put under a herculean task. The young Acharya spent several years in the study of the scriptures and dharma shastras, and acquainted himself with his role as the Head of the Math.He soon gained the reverence and respect of the devotees and people around him. Maha-Periyava was the head of the Mutt for eighty-seven years. During this period, the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Pitam acquired new strength as an institution that propagated Śankara's teachings. The devotion, fervour, and intensity with which the Paramacharya practiced what Śankara had taught are considered to be unparalleled by his devotees. Throughout his life, the focus of his concern and activities was rejuvenating Veda adhyayana, the Dharma Sasthras, and the age-old tradition, which had suffered decline. "Veda rakshanam" was his very life breath, and he referred to this in most of his talks.Remaining active throughout his life, the sage of Kanchi twice undertook pilgrimages on foot from Rameshwaram in the far south of the Indian peninsula to Benares in the North.Providing support through Veda Patashalas (schools teaching Vedic lore) through the Veda Rakshana Nidhi which he founded and honouring Vedic scholars, he reinvigorated Vedic studies in India. He organised regular sabhas ('conferences') which included discussions on arts and culture — these led to a renewed interest in Vedic religion, Dharma sasthras, and theSanskrit language. His long tenure as Pitadhipathi is considered by many to have been the Golden Era of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.Periyava has been a guide to millions, always stressing the importance of a Guru in one's life. He has repeatedly preached about the importance of following the Dharmic path. His various discourses are available in a pack of six books called 'Deivathin Kural' (Voice of the Divine) which have been compiled by R. Ganapathi, a devotee of Periyava
His teachings are simple and easy to follow. He says "Shed egoism, Show love to others. Serve humanity. Have compassion for the poor and the needy, Service to humanity is the greatest religion". There are several instances of miracles, the happy fruits of which have been experienced by devotees. His aim was always to see a smile on the faces of the suffering.
He attained Mahasamadhi in 1994, when he was succeeded by His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswati. The above account is an attempt to give an introduction of Mahaswami and is meant to nurture more and more articles and comments on Periyava.

The following links would be useful- http://kamakoti.org/